Euro Touring Series

May 11, 2009

Euro Touring Series – Round 4

The Much More backed Euro Touring Series roars back into action after a near 2 month break following the successful running of round 3 in Warsaw, Poland. The Championship visits the famous Apeldoorn track in the Netherlands for round 4 on the 29th to 31st of May and with entry currently open, we have already attracted some of Europe’s top racers with Jilles Groskamp, Viktor Wilck, Steen Graversen, as well as round 3 winner Yannic Pruemper already placing their entry. For more information about the event and where it takes place go to the Series page on our site here.

Racers can enter round 4 of the ETS by going to rcracecontrol.com.

March 8, 2009

A3 win gives Groskamp runner-up spot

In what can only be described as 5 minutes of pure entertainment, the final race of the day here at the 3rd round of the Much More backed Euro Touring Series was eventually won by Jilles Groskamp giving the Dutch Tamiya Factory driver the runners up spot in the overall result behind the star of the event Yannic Pruemper.

With the overall winner decided in Leg 2 the final A-Main would determine the overall order for the rest of Top 10 here in Warsaw. Intially it was 15-year-old star Pruemper who headed the field chased down by Groskamp but the Dutch driver found a way passed after a mistake by the leader. Groskamp then made a mistake himself causing a pile up coming on to the main straight but the Speed Passion driver held position as Steven Wiess came out of the mess in second with Paul Lemieux third. Again Groskamp got out of shape at the top corner handing Weiss the lead. The Xray driver was looking really good for the win but on the final run through the first chicane he rolled giving Groskamp back the lead and the race win. Weiss recovered to take second just ahead of Marc Rheinard. The result meant Groskamp snatched second on the all Tamiya podium from team-mate Rheinard. Fourth in the leg went to Teemu Leino with Austria’s Hupo Honigl taking his best finish with fifth while Andy Moore completed the Top 6. In the overall classification this left Leino fourth, Moore fifth and Weiss sixth.

Modified Overall results
1. Yannic Pruemper – 20pts ( 10 10 1 )
2. Jilles Groskamp – 18pts ( 8 8 10 )
3. Marc Rheinard – 18pts ( 9 9 8 )
4. Teemu Leino – 14pts ( 6 7 7 )
5. Andy Moore – 13pts ( 7 6 5 )
6. Steven Weiss – 11pts ( 1 2 9 )
7. Hubert Hönigl – 10pts ( 4 3 6 )
8 Paul Lemieux – 10pts ( 5 5 4 )
9. Bart Wubben – 7pts ( 3 4 2 )
10. Michal Bok – 5pts ( 2 1 3 )

In Pro Stock Miek Niemann completed the perfect weekend winning the third Leg but didn’t lead from start to finish like in the previous two legs. The pole sitter clashed with Daniel Wohlgemuth, the only driver able to take the challenge to him all weekend, on lap three dropping both drivers down the order. The Xray driver set about a great recovery setting the fastest lap of the race as he chased down and eventually passed long time race leader Dai Sakaguchi’s Tamiya. In the overall result it was Wohlgemuth who took second with ETS Pro Stock Round 2 winner Balint Rajki completing the podium.

Pro Stock Overall results
1. Meik Niemann – 2pts ( 1 1 1)
2. Daniel Wohlgemuth – 4pts ( 2 2 3)
3. Balint Rajki – 7pts ( 4 3 7)
4. Dai Sakaguchi – 8pts ( 7 6 2)
5. Oliver Näthe – 10pts ( 3 7 8)
6. Zdenko Kunák – 10pts ( 6 4 9)
7 Jakub Plechac – 10pts ( 5 5 5)
8. Dominik Reschke – 14pts ( 10 10 4)
9. Jan Gehrig – 14pts ( 8 9 6)
10. Jerome Meile – 17pts ( 9 8 10)

So the first international electric race meeting to be held in Poland has been a great success. The facilities provided by the OSM Club, which is part of the Polish Automobile Club who celebrate their 100th anniversary this year, are a credit to all involved. As always it takes a big team to put together such a top class event but one man who deserves a special mention is Niko Triandafilidis. It is because of his great work that we had so many young drivers among the 100 plus entry including four-year-old Maciek Kajko. The Polish race will be remember as a great event but also as the one where emerging star Yannic Pruemper took his first big win.

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March 8, 2009

A star is born – Pruemper wins in Poland

In practice he impressed everyone with his super fast laps, in final qualifier he snatched TQ honours from some of the best in the sport and now in the Finals young Yannic Pruemper has completed the perfect weekend by claiming overall victory for Round 3 of the Euro Touring Series. Having won the opening Leg of the A Main, the rising German talent once again beat the quality field behind him for win No.2 and his first big international race success.

The 15-year-old resisted intense pressure from his senior Tamiya team-mates Jilles Groskamp and Marc Rheinard but both made mistakes in their quest to take the fight for overall victory to the third A Main. If the pressure of having all these World class drivers chasing him down wasn’t enough Pruemper had to contend with adrenalin pumping commentary of the legendary race announcer Scotty Ernst.

After the race Pruemper was clearly emotional with taking his first big race win over his idol Marc Rheinard. The German was short of words but was quick to thank his mentor and mechanic Toni Rheinard for his support and expert guidance.

Behind Pruemper and Rheinard the big battle was for third between Groskamp, Teemu Leino, Andy Moore and Paul Lemieux. Eventually it was Groskamp who took the spot from the leading Xray of Leino.

In Pro Stock we had an exciting second A-Main that kept the large crowd of spectators on their feet. An ETS podium finisher last year Miek Niemann was in search of his first win having won Leg 1. All looked to be going to plan when Daniel Wohlgemuth made a mistake giving Niemann the break he needed but his nerves appeared to kick in in the dying moments of the race and he rolled his Xray twice allowing Wohlgemuth to close right up the gap from almost 5 seconds to less than 2. Holding it together however Niemann took a popular win to also claim his first big race victory.

We have one more round of Finals to go here at the very well prepared OSM Club track in Warsaw where the lower podium placings are still up for grabs.

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March 8, 2009

Young Pruemper beats masters in first A Main

A pre race drama when his car needed a sensor cable change just as the first A-Main went to grid and the close attention of the only two time Touring Car World Champion didn’t phase young Yannic Pruemper as he converted his first international TQ into victory in A-Main No.1.

Having secured pole for the third round of the 2008/2009 Euro Touring Series here in Warsaw, the 15-year-old Tamiya driver took the pressure of Marc Rheinard, defending ETS Champion Jilles Groskamp and former World Champion Andy Moore in his stride. In the early part of the race it was Groskamp who pushed the promising young German but the Dutch ace rolled allowing Rheinard to mount the challenge on the driver who is the protege of his brother Toni Rheinard. Behind Moore held third from the recovering Groskamp.

Rheinard pushed Pruemper right to the finish and afterwards one of the sport’s greatest drivers was very complimentary of his fellow country man. ‘Yannic was very impressive. He was under a lot of pressure and didn’t make any mistakes.’

Pruemper was clearly delighted with his performance as was his mentor Toni Rheinard. The former top flight international racer said, ‘Yannic did a fantastic job. He had super pressure starting from his first TQ but then to keep it all together when Jilles and Marc were on his bumper was amazing.’

Making it an all Tamiya podium Groskamp managed to repass Moore for third after the British driver made a mistake at the chicane. The Xray pairing of Teemu Leino and Paul Lemieux, who started ninth, completed the top 6.

In Pro Stock it was Top Qualifier Meik Niemann who took the win but the SMI Motorsport/Xray driver was pushed hard by Daniel Wohlgemuth who posted the fastest lap of the race with his Tamiya. Both drivers made mistakes during the run but Niemann crossed the line first by just 7/10th of a second. Making a completely German Top 3 Oliver Nathe took his Tamiya to third just in front of the top Hungarian racer Balint Rajki.

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March 8, 2009

Pruemper takes pole in Poland

He has been quick all weekend but had trouble putting a clean run together however when it counted most 15-year-old Yannic Pruemper topped the final qualifier to secure overall pole here in Poland. With five drivers in with a chance of securing pole for this afternoon’s finals, the Tamiya Junior team driver took his Speed Passion powered TRF416 to the fastest 5 minute run of the 3rd round of the Much More backed Euro Touring Series. Up against some of the World’s greatest RC drivers and yesterday’s four qualification round winners Marc Rheinhard, Andy Moore, Jilles Groskamp and Teemu Leino, the young German held his nerve to set a time of 27 laps in 302.72 to claim his first international TQ honours.

The final qualifier was a very close fought affair with Pruemper clinching the top spot by just 5/100th of a second from two time World Champion Marc Rheinard who lines up 3rd on the grid for the triple A-Mains. Defending Champion Jilles Groskamp, who could only manage 10th on this occassion, will line up second on the grid making it a Tamiya lock out up front.

Xray/Team Orion factory driver Teemu Leino admitted to a driver error in the round but still managed the third fastest time to secure fourth on the grid for his T2 009. Starting behind the Finn will be former World Champion Andy Moore. The Hot Bodies factory driver saw his chances of the overall TQ honours disappear on the very first lap when he lost the rear of his car but the British ace recovered to take fourth for the round.

The second half of the grid will be made up of Steven Weiss of Germany from fellow LRP/Xray driver Bart Wubben with 1:12 European Champion Hupo Honigl lining up eight. US Champion Paul Lemieux and top Czech racer Michal Bok bring up the rear of the grid.

In Pro Stock, Tamiya driver Daniel Wohlgemuth gave his all in the final qualifier winning the round from Meik Niemann, who rolled his Xray while leading, but it was the latter who takes the overall TQ honours. Wohlgemuth who won three of the five qualifiers could not match the faster time set by Niemann in the penultimate round. Making it four different brands of cars at the front of the grid 4 is Corally driver Dominik Reschke who starts third and ETS Round 2 winner Balint Rajki with his Hot Bodies.

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March 7, 2009

Leino takes latest qualifying thriller

Former European Champion Teemu Leino has become the latest driver to TQ a round of qualifying at round 3 of the ETS in Poland in what has been a thrilling day of action. The factory Xray driver became the fourth different driver to TQ in as many rounds as he pipped Tamiya Junior team driver Yannic Pruemper by just 9/100th of a second. The result means that anyone of five drivers can take overall TQ honours in tomorrow mornings fifth and final qualifier.

Leino said a new set of controlled Sweep tyres for the last qualifier of today transformed his car allowing him to set a new fastest lap for the event with a time of 10.92. The Finn, whose run was the second fastest time over 5 minutes behind that of Andy Moore, will leave his car the same for tomorrow morning’s TQ showdown.

Pruemper’s mentor Toni Rheinard was relieved to see his young star finally completed a solid run. The 15-year-old was holding the predicted TQ time but a roll on lap 22 cost him 2 seconds. Pruemper who is a member of the Speed Passion team line up quickly regained his composure however, posting his fastest lap of the run two laps later.

Steven Weiss repeated his third round qualifying performance with another great Top 3 run. Running an unchanged car, the German improved his time by almost 2 seconds and is confident of further improvements tomorrow after his day got off to a difficult start. Bart Wubben was next up also improving slightly on his previous time but the Dutch driver feels he may have been too cautious and plans to drive more agressively in the morning.

Austrian Hupo Honigl finally broke in to the 27 laps claiming fifth for the round while Michal Bok was fastest of those on 26 laps to complete the Top 6.

After a strong start to the round Marc Rheinard came undone in the exact same spot as he did a round earlier ending his chances of wrapping up overall TQ honours early. The other round winners Andy Moore and over night TQ holder Jilles Groskamp both came undone following incidents involving Czech driver Bok.

Modified overall after 4 of 5 rounds
1. Jilles Groskamp – 2pts [2 (7) 0 (9)]
2. Marc Rheinard – 2pts [0 2 (2) (12)]
3. Teemu Leino – 3pts [(3) 3 (6) 0]
4. Andy Moore – 4pts [4 0 (35) (33)]
5. Steven Weiss – 6pts [(32) (9) 3 3]
6. Yannic Pruemper – 7pts [(5) (34) 5 2]
7. Bart Wubben – 8pts [(12) (5) 4 4]
8. Paul Lemieux – 11pts [(11) 4 (11) 7]
9. Hubert Hönigl – 11pts [6 (15) (9) 5]
10. Michal Bok – 12pts [(7) 6 (7) 6]

In Pro Stock Meik Niemann took another round TQ from his main rival Daniel Wohlgemuth. This leaves the German pair with two rounds each but Niemann has the faster time putting the pressure on Wohlgemuth going in the last round. Hungarian ETS race winner Balint Rajki took his Hot Bodies to third for the round.

With the TQ in both categories up for grabs, five drivers going for that honour in Modified, Day 3 of the Euro Touring Series’ first vist to Poland is set to get off to a thrilling start. We’ll bring you the outcome followed by full coverage of the triple A-Mains here in Warsaw.

Pro Stock overall after 4 of 5 rounds
1. Meik Niemann – 0pts [(2) (6) 0 0]
2. Daniel Wohlgemuth – 0pts [0 0 (2) (2)]
3. Dominik Reschke – 6pts [(35) 2 (4) 4]
4. Balint Rajki – 7pts [(39) 4 (5) 3]
5. Zdenko Kunák – 7pts [4 3 (10) (18)]
6. Dai Sakaguchi – 8pts [(5) 5 3 (7)]
7. Jakub Plechac – 8pts [3 (9) (8) 5]
8. Oliver Näthe – 14pts [(8) (8) 6 8]
9. Jan Gehrig – 14pts [(14) 7 7 (9)]
10. Jerome Meile – 16pts [10 (13) (42) 6]

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March 7, 2009

Groskamp TQ’s 3rd Qualifier

Three qualifiers have been run here in Warsaw and we have a third different driver taking TQ honours with defending Champion Jilles Groskamp snatching the top spot from Tamiya team-mate Marc Rheinard. Rheinard had been on target to top the round being the only driver not to roll but on the very last lap he caught a dot flipping his car on its roof resulting in a 15.43 lap, some 3.5 seconds slower than his previous laps. This handed Groskamp, who posted a new fastest lap of the event with a 10.97, the round with 27 laps in 305.15 with the current World Champion finishing on 306.79.

After a difficult opening qualifier Steven Weiss is starting to show good form here in Poland. The 2007 European Championship Top Qualifier recorded the third fastest time for the heat just ahead of fellow Xray driver Bart Wubben. Weiss changed tyre additive which greatly improved the steering on his LRP powered T2 009 while Wubben made a series of changes that also improved the feel of his similar package.

Yannic Prumper equalled his first round with fifth fastest time while Teemu Leino completed the Top 6. Having TQ’d the second qualifier, with the fastest 5 minute run we have seen here so far, Andy Moore exited early after traction rolling off the track ending any chance of a fast time.

In Pro Stock Daniel Wohlgemuth’s run of topping the time sheets came to an end as he had to give way to Meik Niemann. The German SMI Motorsport driver didn’t match Wohlgemuth’s fastest time from the second qualifier but took the TQ for the round by a second. Dai Sakagucki posted the third fastest time.

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March 7, 2009

Moore goes fastest

Former World Champion Andy Moore put in a great second qualifier here in Warsaw to go fastest overall bettering the Round 1 TQ time set by the current World Champion Marc Rheinard. A widening of the front track width transformed the Englishman’s Hot Bodies allowing him to go top of the overall times as he knocked 3.3 seconds off the previous TQ pace.

It was a close fought round between Rheinard and Moore but the German had to deal with the front of his bodyshell, run for the first time in this heat, catching on the carpet. Despite this the Tamiya ace was also able to improve on his opening TQ time by 7/10th.

Third for the round and making it three different cars in the Top 3 was Xray factory team leader Teemu Leino. Changes made to his car improved turn in allowing him to run a faster pace but the Finn plans further changes as he would like a little more.

Next up was Trinity/Xray team driver Paul Lemieux, the American very happy with his car saying all he needs now is a clean run. The US Champion had a quick roll after catching a dot and got up on two wheels on a number of occassions. Also driving an Xray and fifth fastest for the round was Dutch driver Bart Wubben. Current lying second in the ETS points standings, Wubben made big changes to his T2 009 which he says have made it drivable now. Czech driver Michal Bok completed the Top 6.

Elsewhere Yannic Pruemper was once again fastest on lap time with an 11.00 second lap. The youngster set the early pace and was again on target for a TQ time but caught a dot. After a second mistake the protege of Toni Rheinard pulled up early to save his tyres. Reigning ETS Champion Jilles Groskamp had a series of rolls early on that destroyed any chance of a good run. The factory Tamiya/Speed Passion driver will now switch to a similar set-up as used by Pruemper.

In Pro Stock Daniel Wohlgemuth enjoyed another TQ run improving by 2 seconds. Second went to Dominik Reschke who ripped a wheel off his Corally in the opening heat while Zdenko Kunák took third ahead of Hungarian ETS race winner Balint Rajki.

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